STRICKEN DEAD IN THE WITNESS BOX.

Kumara Times, Issue 1422, 23 April 1881, Page 2

STRICKEN DEAD IN THE WITNESS BOX.

[From the Macon (Georgia) Telegraph.] Yesterday morning in the Supreme Court, the *case of Victoria Hays v. Emanuel Hays, libel for divorce, was called, with Col. O. J. Harris representing the defendant, and Capt. John L. Hardeman the libellant. The evidence for the libellant, Victoria Hays, had been given, when the defence put upon a stand a hale, well-dressed negro by the name of Robert Tucker, to

break down her testimony, she having stated as a ground of divorce that her husband did not furnish her with means of support. The witness stood at Judge Stewart’s left hand, on a little platform reached by three or lour steps. He did not appear to be much excited, and nothing in his manner gave warning of the tragic scene about to be enacted. Cok Harris began his questions “ Do you know Emanuel Hays 1” “ Yes, sir.” “ Have you visited his home?” “ Yes, sir.” “ How did the family fare. Did they have plenty to eat ?” “ They lived comfortably.” “ Were you there at meal time]” “ Yes, sir ; six or seven times.” Here the libellant leaned over to bet lawyer, Mr John L. Hardeman, and whispered: “ That’s not true; he never was there but once.” “ What did they have for dinner asked the questioner. “ They had ham and chicken, and rice, and tea and coffee and sugar.” As this answer was given, the libellant touched her lawyer’s arm and excitedly whispered : “Mr Hardeman, that’s a lie !” Col. Harris asked another question, but it was not answered, or only partially. The eyes of the witness were seen to cross once or twice in quick succession. Ho lifted his hand in the air, tottered, and plunged head* long down the steps to the floor. Amid considerable excitement the fallen man was lifted and carried into the Judge’s room, where he expired in a few moments. Dr. Ferguson, who was called in* examined the body and pronounced life extinct. His death is attributed to apoplexy. The sudden death and its surrounding circumstances were the topics of general conversation among the Colored people, it having been reported among them that the deceased wag telling an untruth, and was struck dead on the spot. Of course no one can pass on the testimony of the dead man. II may or may not have been true. The case on trial at the time of the occurrence was continued, as the dead man’s wife was an important witness, and could not be called upon to testify-.